Ant Farmers

Low-key, folk-rock-influenced indie-poppers from Albuquerque, NM, the Ant Farmers are primarily a vehicle for the lyrically skewed but unfailingly catchy songs of singer/guitarist Carl Petersen, the band's only constant member. Formed out of the remnants of various local bands in 1988, the group's original lineup was Petersen, lead singer Jon Little, bassist Darrell Sparks (brother of the Handsome Family's Brett Sparks), and drummer Bill Mudd. After gigging around Albuquerque for a couple of years, the quartet recorded their debut album, Trailer Park Music, in 1990. Mudd was replaced by Robert Hobbs II in 1992; the revised band recorded their second album, Yarn, the following year. Another personnel change occurred when Sparks left to form his own band, Pawn Drive. He was replaced by Paula Blanchard, who played bass on the group's third and best album, 1995's Beautician, but left the band the following year to return to school. A period of even greater personnel instability ensued; Steve Siegrist of Thin White Rope replaced Blanchard temporarily before himself being replaced by ex-Strawberry Zots keyboardist Michael Henningsen. The Ant Farmers broke up temporarily when Little left the band in 1997; Petersen and Hobbs formed a new trio called the Webelos, with Petersen as lead singer, but eventually reverted to the Ant Farmers name when Henningsen rejoined. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide